The holidays are right around the corner, and though there can be many joyful moments throughout, 'tis also the season for anxiety, depression, and stress. Although the gym is not a cure for those symptoms, it's a good starting place to help ease them! 2021 has been an interesting year, to say the least, and I'm sure most of us have suffered from added anxiety, depression, and stress due to COVID and many other things in one way or another. All of us need an outlet to release some of those negative feelings sometimes. Self-care is a great place to start, and you can think of going to the gym as one of the easiest ways to care for yourself (and the cheapest therapy)! The hardest part can be just getting here, especially if you're feeling down, but when you do, there's an infinite amount of things you can do! Need to vent? Bring a friend and chat vent it out while you sweat it out together. Want to try out something new or learn a new machine to take your mind off things? Ask our expert personal training staff. Prefer to work out in a group setting? Our group fitness classes rock and I guarantee you will leave feeling great and with a smile on your face! Need a little pick-me-up treat? Stop by the FuelBar and grab a delicious, fresh-made smoothie!

Let's focus on the primary reason for the gym, the actual workout. No matter what you do - lift weights, go to class, even just walking on a treadmill - studies show that any form of exercise helps the production of your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, otherwise known as endorphins. If you're needing a cool-down to a stressful day, take a yoga class! Maybe it was a bad day, let the rage be fuel to a killer lift day. Just get to the gym! It's a very healthy way to work through emotions!